Washing and cleaning apparatus for mash and strainer tubs



Dec. 4, 1934. A, R. KELLER' 1,983,232

WASHING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MASH AND STRAINER TUBS Filed Jan. 2,1934 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIWR. afrazfeas fiJfeZ Zer:

d fyls Dec. 4, 1934. A, R, KELLER 1,983,232

WASHING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MASH AND STRAINER TUBS Filed Jan. 2,1954 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PP MR. afrzirmsfizezkr Dec. 4, 1934.

A. R. KELLER WASHING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MAS H AND STRAINER TUBSFiled Jan. 2, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 5 lil Pi WW H I am lUJ W Patented Dec.4, 1934 WASHING AND oLsAmNdArrAnATUs Fort MASH AND STRAINER TUBS AndreasR. Keller; Lombard; 1112 Application January 2, 1934, Sam No. 705,024 6Claims. (01. 210 152) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in mash and strainer tanks, and is designed to increase theefficiency of such tanks by providing a new support for the falsebottom,

and new and improved means for washing out the false bottom and thespace under thefalsebottom without removing the false bottom orstrainer, thereby overcoming the obvious disadvantages of the machinesnow-in use, in which the removal of the false bottom at frequentintervals for cleaning and washing is necessary.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafterapparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination andarrangementof parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimedand illustrated in the accompanyi'ng drawings; wherein e Figurel is atop plan view of the equipment forming the subject-matter of the"present in- 20 vention'; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the line2-2 ofFlg. 1, illustrating the relation of the nozzleand outlet housingsto the bottom of the tank'and to the false orstrainerbottomand itssupporting angle irons; Fig. 3*- is a fragmentary 25 side elevation ofone: of the wort pipes, illustrating the valivearrangement inconnectionwith the waste pipe; Fig. (l; is a plan view of enact thenozzle and outlet housings, with fragmentary views of the false bottomsupports, or anglei rons,

30 radiating from said housing; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of thenozzle and outlet housing, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4,illustrating in more detail the outlet pipe and cleaning jet; 1 Fig. 6is a vertical sectional view of an alternative form .35. of nozzle orcleaning jet; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the nozzle shown inFig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the false bottom, showingthe relation of the supporting angle irons to it and to the lap; Fig. 9is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the ports or openings inthe angleirons, and their relation to the false bottom; and Fig. 10 is afragmentary vertical section showing one port and angle iron in greaterdetail.

45. In order to understand the present invention,

it is necessary to consider the operation of a mash and strainer tub asused in the brewing industry, so that the disadvantages which have beenovercome by my device may be appreciated. The

mash or grain in the tub is stirred through the wort by means ofmechanical agitators until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, then thewort is allowed to drain off through a slotted false bottom, orstrainer, into outlets in the real bot- 5 tom of the tub, and thencethrough pipes to the grant and thebrewing kettle. The movement of themechanical agitators and. their operative gearing compresses and grindsthe grain to a certain extent, forcing therefrom small glutinousparticles. Some of-these glutinous parts filter through the false bottomand lodge in the drain space thereunder, where they adhere and formamass knowntothetrade by the name of underdough, which mass prevents theproper draining of the wort'from the tub. The formationof this mass, orunderdough, not only slows up the drainagerate of thewort, but alsonecessitates frequent removal ofthe false bottom for the purpose ofcleaning out this drainage space. This obviouslyreduces the efficiencyof the mash tub, and it isthis disadvantage which my invention has beendesigned to overcome. H In my device, the real bottom of the tub,indicated: in the attached drawings by the reference numeral 10,}isseparated from the false bottom 11," having strainerjslots 12, by theangle iron supports 13.. The sections of the false bottom 11 are held inposition'on the supports 13 by the laps 14. At various points inthe-bottom of thetub are located housings 15', each housing supportingan inlet pipe 16 having thereon a jet or sprayer nozzle 17 so positionedas to throwa stream of water or other cleaning fluid radially into thedrainage space 18. A This washer nozzle mayhave a series oflradiallyarranged inde pendent jets, as jets l lin Figs. 4 and 5, or some otheralternate means for projecting the water radially, as for example, thespray nozzle 19 illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, having a multiplicity ofperforations 20 through which the water is projected. Either of thesenozzles may have in connection therewith a circumferential slot 23through which water may be projected radially. The inlet pipes 16 areconnected through other pipes 21 to some source of water or other fluidunder pressure, which I do not describe because there are many such incommon usage, nor does such source form an integral part of myinvention.

Each housing also contains a drain pit or sump 24, from which leads awort pipe 25. Each wort pipe has in its line a shut-off valve 26, andimmediately in front of said shut-off valve a junction 27 with a wastelead-off pipe 28, said waste pipe having a shut-ofi valve 29. adjacentto said junction 27.

Each housing is fastened to the bottom of the mash tub by any commonmeans, as by the rivets 22, as illustrated. It may also have removableplates 30 and 31 to facilitate removal of the wort ion pipes and nozzlepipes if repairs should be necessary, said plates being held in positionby any convenient method, as bolts 32.

The supports 13 which hold up the false bottom 11 are most convenientlymade as angle irons, as shown. The supports are arranged radially withrespect to their nearest washer nozzle 1'7, in order to permit thenozzle to throw an uninterrupted stream as far as possible in everydirection. The angle irons, moreover, have openings or ports 33 atfrequent intervals throughout their length, thus permitting freecirculation of fluid in all directions.

The operation of my device is as follows. During the draining of thewort the washer nozzles remain inoperative, the valves 29 on the wastepipes 28 are shut, and the valves 26 on the wort pipes 25 are open, thuspermitting the wort to flow into the grant and thence into the brewingkettle, in accordance with normal brewing sequence. After the wort hasdrained off, and the tub has been emptied of the mash by any of theconventional 'methods with which the trade is familiar, the valves 26are shut, and the valves 29 opened. Water or other cleaning fluid isthen forced through the nozzles under pressure, causing a number ofstreams to impinge on the various surfaces in the drainage space underthe false bottom. These streams loosen up and wash away the glutinousparticles forming the underdough, and this waste liquid then flows intothe drainage sumps 24, through the wort pipes 25, and through the wastepipes 28 to some point of disposal. The supply of fluid to the nozzlesis then shut off, valves 29 closed, valves 26 opened, and the mash tubis again in operative condition for brewing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the priorart.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the type described, a tub, a false bottom therein, andsupports for said false bottom in combination with sprayer nozzles, saidsupports being arranged radially with respect to said sprayer nozzles.

2. In a device of the type described, a tub having a false bottom,supports for said false bottom, having openings in said supports, andbeing arranged radially with respect to sprayer jets issuing through thereal bottom of the mash tank at various locations.

3. In a device of the type described, a tub having a false bottom,washer nozzles arranged to issue into the space immediately under saidfalse bottom, housings supporting said washer nozzles, outlet pipes insaid housings in such a position as to afford drains for the mash tank,and supports for said false bottom arranged radially with respect toeach of said washer nozzles.

4. In combination with a tub of the type described, a false bottom,washer nozzles issuing into the space between said false bottom and theactual bottom of said tub, housings supporting said washer nozzles,outlet pipes also supported by said housings, supports for said falsebottom radiating from said housings, and openings or ports in saidsupports so located as to afford the greatest possible circulation offluid.

5. In combination with a tank of the type described, a false bottom,washer nozzles issuing into the space below said false bottom, means toforce water or other cleaning fluid through said washer nozzles,housings supporting said washer nozzles, outlet pipes supported inproper relation to said tank by said housings, means whereby said outletpipes can be caused to drain either into the grant or into a waste tank,angle 10 tween said bottoms; and supports for said strainer bottomarranged radially with respect to said nozzle, said supports havingopenings therethrough whereby the circulation of cleansing fluid isfacilitated.

ANDREAS R. KELLER.

